Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has vowed to crush what he called an armed mutiny in a televised address. It comes after Yevgeny Prigojhin, head of the Wagner mercenary group said he wanted to oust Russia’s military leadership.
The Russian army says it is carrying out ‘combat measures’ in the southern region of Voronezh. Further south, Prigozhin says his Wagner forces have taken control of key military sites in the city of Rostov-on-Don. This includes the region’s military headquarters – a key logistical base for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But Prigozhin denies he’s staging a coup.
As Russian authorities declare a counter-terrorist operation in Moscow, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin says his troops are prepared to die for their cause.
Wagner Chief Yevgeny Prigozhin says Russia’s President is mistaken, and Wagner fighters are patriots, not traitors. But Prigozhin said the situation on the Ukrainian frontline is not affected.
We have four correspondents following this developing story.
Yulia Shapovalova is in Moscow for the latest updates. Jonah Hull will give us a reaction from Kyiv and we’ll also speak to him about the Russian air strikes there.
Ali Hashem is in Russian-controlled Donetsk.
Sonia Gallego is following developments from London.
Charles Stratford joins on the road to Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine.
Mutiny is a revolt among a group of people (typically of a military, of a crew, or of a crew of pirates) to oppose, change, or overthrow an organization to which they were previously loyal. The term is commonly used for a rebellion among members of the military against an internal force, but it can also sometimes mean any type of rebellion against any force.
